Feathers/Before the Storm Questline - Horde Version - 8.1.5 PTR

Several weeks ago on the 8.1.5 PTR, we previewed the Alliance version of a questline which sheds light on the fate of two characters from the Before the Storm book. Now, we have the equivalent questline that the Horde players get!

WARNING: 8.1.5 and Before the Storm Story Spoilers below!

The Alliance version of this questline has you interact with Kelsey Steelspark to find her friend Sapphronetta Flivvers. The Horde questline, meanwhile, starts from Trade Prince Gallywix, who wants to you to kill Grizzek Fizzwrench in Lo strano caso di Grizzek Frizzachiavi.

When this whole Azerite mess began I had a goblin named Grizzek Fizzwrench do some research for me. He was bad for business and had to be removed from the picture. I thought it was a done deal, only now I'm hearing maybe he's not so dead. I need you to hunt this guy down and see what happened. If he's alive, eliminate him and I'll add the standard mercenary fee to your reward.

Gazlowe intervenes and convinces you to save Grizzek instead of killing him. You're not too benevolent though, as you only go along because you're paid more.

Gallywix talked to you about Fizzwrench? Yeah, I thought so.

Look, Grizzek didn't have a lick of sense when it came to politics, but he was a good guy. Between you and me? We need goblins like him, pushin' the boundaries of engineering.

So here's my counter offer. If you find Grizzek, tell him to keep his head down and tell Gallywix he's out of the picture.

Do that and I'll make sure you get paid twice as much. Sound good?

Arriving in Tanaris, you find a mechanical parrot named Feathers, which is evidence of Grizzek's work. With all the Venture Co. mobs in the area, we kill them for mechanical parts in Ricostruzioni urgenti.

<The word "Feathers" has been etched onto the broken mechanical creature -- the sort of thing the person you are looking for might have created. Collecting the pieces and recreating the mechanical construct will surely give you a clue as to their fate. The area is crawling with Venture Co. scavengers and goons. Their pockets are filled with various bits of machinery and small mechanical parts. Collect pieces from the Venture Co. to fix Feathers.>

After assembling the pieces, Feathers is mostly stable, but you will need to debug his programming in Programma di richiamo. After successfully debugging Feathers, he will carry you to Sapphronetta Flivvers in Ritorno al nido.

After locating Sapphronetta, she's still together with Grizzek Fizzwrench (and wearing the same Azerite engagement ring she had on the book!), and you honor your deal by warning Grizzek about Gallywix. As thanks, you are given Piumotto.

Hey, uh, so I got a good thing goin' on here, and I really don't want Gallywix to know I'm alive. I'll make you a deal. You spin some story about how you only found tiny pieces of me spread across Tanaris and that I am totally dead, and... And you can keep the bird. Deal?

Grizzek has some parting advice:

Grizzek: Hey, thanks for not blabbing to Gallywix for me.Grizzek: And uh, thank Gazlowe for me? I owe him one, so I'm gonna pay it with some advice for you to pass along.Grizzek: Never get involved in political engineering! Never!Grizzek: Tell him to run if he's gettin' too close!Saffy: We should really be going, Gallywix's goons could find us at any moment!Grizzek: Right, right. We're all packed, pookie. Ready to go when you are.Saffy: You take good care of Feathers!Saffy: Remember, you never saw us!

You then return to Gallywix in È morto, Jastor and lie that Grizzek is dead:

He's nothing but a smear across the desert. A tiny smear. A series of microscopic bits spread across the sand. He's 100% dead. I got this really awful sunburn looking for all the pieces. And when I found them I blew them up again. Yep. He's dead. Really, really dead.

Afterwards, you return to Gazlowe:

Nice work convincing Gallywix. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought Grizzek was actually dead.

He's alive right? Right.

Anyway, here's your bonus pay. Let's just keep this between us, okay?

The quest ends with Gazlowe from the Horde and Kelsey Steelspark from the Alliance knowing the couple is alive, but sworn to secrecy.

Saffy and Grizzek on Before the Storm

Sapphronetta Flivvers and Grizzek Fizzwrench are side-characters on the book Before the Storm. Previously a couple, they were separated by the beginning of the book, claiming they were irritated by each other. After divorcing Grizzek, Saffy joined the Explorer's League as a consultant, and was sent to Silithus to help with the Azerite gathering mission.

During Saffy's time in Silithus, she befriended the sentinel Cordressa Briarbow, close friend to Delaryn Summermoon. During one night, Saffy was kidnapped by goblins, who had direct orders to capture the gnome. Saffy defended herself but was eventually knocked out, waking up while riding a wyvern towards Tanaris, accompanied by her ex-husband, Grizzek. She was against everything the goblin stood for, until Grizzek offered the gnome a piece of Azerite, and her mind opened up to the possibilities of creations they could devise using the mineral.

Saffy and Grizzek spent weeks working on Azerite inventions for Gallywix, and rekindled their relationship during that time. Eventually, they were told to only create weapons with the Azerite they were provided, a decision that devastated the couple, as they did not want to create inventions that would be used to deliberately harm others.

The unlikely couple devised a plan to escape Gallywix: They would set a bomb at their laboratory and use the distraction to escape into a tunnel in Tanaris. While escaping, Grizzek proposed to Saffy once more, who accepted. After making to the tunnel, however, they were captured by Gallywix's forces, who set up the bomb between the couple after tying them up.

Saffy and Grizzek managed to make the bomb drop to the ground between them, but when they attempted to escape the bomb's explosion, their small legs could only take the couple so far. While escaping, Grizzek lamented that Gallywix would use their inventions to hurt others after all, but Saffy mentioned their notes were destroyed, so the Goblin leader could not use it to cause harm to others. Their participation in the book ended as the bomb went off, leaving on a cliffhanger on whether the couple survived or not.

The Unidentified Goblin and Gnome

At the release of Tides of Vengeance, it was already known for those with a keen eye that Saffy and Grizzek survived the explosion from Before the Storm. On the World Quest Dove cacciano le aquile, sometimes available during a faction assault in Tiragarde Sound, you pick up Saltarazzo di Grizzek and use it to dismantle Horde operations within Greystone Keep. When you pick up the rocket, you can see a Gnoma Non Identificata and Goblin Non Identificato next to the item. The rocket's flavor description also mentions how the invention is a mix of goblin and gnomish engineering.

Before the Storm and 8.1 Spoilers:

Look who's ALIVE!

Seems a certain pair whose fate was unknown by the end of the book may have survived and appear in game. Clever use of not using their actual names in game. You simply mouse over and see "Goblin and Gnome" pic.twitter.com/XhPeTnjmZF

Feathers, the Mechanical Parrot

The mechanical parrot you meet through the quest, and later receive as the final reward of the short questline, Feathers, was created by the couple as their first and last anniversary gift to each other. At the end of the questline, you're given Feathers as thanks for keeping the couple out of danger and keeping quiet.

Feathers' model was originally datamined in the 8.1 PTR, but not obtained in-game officially until the most recent 8.1.5 build.

Mechanical Parrot Mount

A mechanical parrot mount, with a color scheme and build similar to Feathers was also datamined on the same build as Feathers, but there is currently no source for the mount. Both Feathers and the mechanical parrot mount were first shown during the WoW: What's Next Panel at Blizzcon 2018, when talking about flying in Kul Tiras and Zandalar. Maybe we will see the mechanical parrot mount in 8.2?

Commenti

Commento di m2geek

on 2019-02-16T21:29:03-06:00

Wow that mount is YUGE, Bigly...

Commento di hakwea

on 2019-02-16T22:02:08-06:00

I hope it is not a store mount or not to difficulty to obtain (raid/dungeon based). Would be perfect for my gnome hunter and their stable of mechanical pets. Which reminds me I need to level it up before 8.2

Commento di kodora1316

on 2019-02-16T22:55:25-06:00

I hope it is not a store mount or not too difficulty to obtain (raid/dungeon based).

Agreed!

Commento di Kissoflife

on 2019-02-16T23:16:12-06:00

i hope it is not FROM COLLECTING ANYTHING so hard like collect XYZ pets or mounts

Commento di joey564

on 2019-02-16T23:24:28-06:00

I hope that 8.1.5 drops and that this mount just appears in my bags..

Commento di SilentStorm182

on 2019-02-17T00:11:46-06:00

Honestly the "Mecha Bird" is probably going to be a mythic only drop from the Mechagon dungeon in 8.2, or maybe something similar to the Nightbane mount from kara since the dungeon is a "Mega Dungeon"

If it's something else i would be very surprised

Commento di avatarofshadow

on 2019-02-17T00:12:03-06:00

I hope its not for subbing for another 6 months. They got me last time, and they'd probably get me again.

Commento di SlyPenguin0

on 2019-02-17T00:35:30-06:00

So many people hoping they literally have to do nothing to earn this? Hurts my brain.

Commento di GullaDaPwna

on 2019-02-17T01:36:24-06:00

The mecha bird might actually be a mount you get when you unlock flying like the rylak mount back in WoD.

Commento di GalenTheGrey

on 2019-02-17T02:10:42-06:00

People are already lobbying for a choice to sell Grizzek out to Gallywix. We can't have one nice thing, can we? Just let these two be!

Commento di Chevron

on 2019-02-17T06:25:00-06:00

Error 37. Love how that gets brought up again. (Diablo launch error)

Commento di redclaw

on 2019-02-17T08:01:45-06:00

Yes, please. Not another store mount. Also while we're dreaming here, can we have the questline feathers or something similar and small carry us as a flying mount? I know, silly, but just for something new and different, like this quest. Keep things interesting Blizz!

Commento di jenrai

on 2019-02-17T10:38:09-06:00

please let that be an eng mount! I mean the current mech head is nice but it's similar enough to Mimiron's head that I haven't bothered to start farming it. This though, this would be worth it.

Commento di tooltip

on 2019-02-17T13:01:07-06:00

Error 37. Love how that gets brought up again. (Diablo launch error)

I saw that quote as well, and the unwelcome memories of that experience flooded back.

(For those unfamiliar, AngryJoe's video at the time does a pretty good summation of the controversy. Segment lasts a bit shy of 3min, and PG-13 warning for language.)

Commento di BerettaNEWarrior

on 2019-02-17T14:09:20-06:00

Just a reminder by Blizz that BfA's bitter wars of extinction are really only a conditional event, an imposition, a gentle ask and that if you're aborbs or wacky enough (or written by someone who's attachment to the lore is the essence of casual) or perhaps both all the kill-on-site and language and trade barriers that govern the actual experience of the game are a wee bit fungible.

Why so cereal, nerds? Have some brainless cute.

Commento di Berrix

on 2019-02-17T14:29:13-06:00

Gee I hope this mount is just given free for logging in. Can't be asked to anything overtly task-demanding that makes me play the games outside showing it off in Boralus or Orgrimmar.

Commento di BernySinara

on 2019-02-17T14:54:57-06:00

wow that mount is awsome for battle pet good i have orc char on 120 :O)

Commento di Drakvul

on 2019-02-18T03:15:01-06:00

Honestly, a chance to pull one over Gallywix again is always welcome. Anytime he gets any interesting development, it's almost always sidelined because Blizzard gets too nervous if they diverge any character from the original mold or god-forbid, get development that sticks.

He's one of those characters that is destined to become a dungeon or raid boss down the line unless someone does something more with his character than make him "the most evil of all the goblins."

Commento di MsWeatherwax

on 2019-02-18T14:50:31-06:00

People are already lobbying for a choice to sell Grizzek out to Gallywix. We can't have one nice thing, can we? Just let these two be!

No, we can't have anything nice. The Horde was taken over by insane fascists, I stg.

Commento di BerettaNEWarrior

on 2019-02-18T19:58:58-06:00

People are already lobbying for a choice to sell Grizzek out to Gallywix. We can't have one nice thing, can we? Just let these two be!

No, we can't have anything nice. The Horde was taken over by insane fascists, I stg.

Being charitable the Horde has always had, let's say, "spontaneous cultural friction problems" and when one of your buffs is called "Collective Will" and your society lacks any succession principle -how you choose the next Warchief- you are a fascist state.

The, imo correct, Horde belief that it is the protagonist of the World of Warcraft doesn't change this situation or ever reframe it. I respect not wanting to be in the group that seemingly always shrieks for the punishment of "traitors" and that demands it always triumph through force of arms but sir/madam that's The Horde. That has always been The Horde.

One people with one mind and one will: that of the Warchief. Everyone else is either an accomplice or a enemy.

Oh and if nobody blinks when the Great Leader declares war for avowedly personal motivations that's a bad sign.Quoth Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar "The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power."